A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Arles vs. Girona for Attractions, Old Town, Food, and Couples

Should you visit Arles or Girona?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Arles and Girona can help you decide which place is right for you.

Arles

Arles is a historic, charming, and compact town. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Girona

Girona is a beautiful, colorful, and medieval city. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. With a quaint atmosphere, it also offers a unique feeling. Other popular activities here include museums, food, and shopping.

Arles and Girona: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Arles or Girona?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Arles than Girona. While Girona is larger than Arles, Arles has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Arles is more popular for its museums and nightlife, while Girona is known for its shopping, small town charm, and quaint atmosphere. Arles is popular for its Roman history and its influence over Vincent van Gogh. It is also home to L'Amphithéâtre Romain. Girona is popular for its ancient ruins, colorful old town, grand cathedral, and impressive local cuisine.

How is Arles different from Girona?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Girona and Arles. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Arles or Girona?

Arles is an unbeatable place for its sights and museums. Also, Girona is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Arles are among the most recognizable in the world. It's a small town but it's filled with Roman ruins and remarkable landmarks. Popular sights include L'Amphithéâtre Romain, Les Alyscamps, Cloître Saint-Trophime, and Théâtre Antique.

Girona offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Wander the ancient city walls, explore the beautiful Girona Cathedral, and learn about the Church of Sant Feliu. There are also some interesting museums in town including the Museum of Jewish History, the Archaeology Museum, and the Film Museum. Also make sure you walk across the famed Eiffel Bridge.

Is the Food Better in Arles or Girona? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both Arles and Girona can be an enjoyable experience.

Dining out in Arles is an experience not to be missed. The cuisine is heavily influenced by the region's local agriculture. Popular dishes include agriade (beef stew), tellines soup, and fougasse (a local bread).

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Girona. The small city is filled with cafes and restaurants that spill out into the street. There are also markets such as El Lleó Marketplace where you can check out fresh, local items. Many restaurants also have Catalonian style tapas, seafood such as octopus, and garlic shrimp. For breakfast, there are many pastry shops where you can enjoy a European breakfast.

Is Arles or Girona Better for Nightlife?

Arles is a good destination for nightlife and partying. However, Girona is not a good city for its evening party scene.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Arles. There are countless bars and pubs where you can enjoy a cold drink and a relaxing night out.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Girona. It's a surprisingly quiet town, especially compared to other nearby party cities, but there are some nightclubs, bars, and music venues that are worth checking out.

Is Arles or Girona Better for its Old Town?

Arles and Girona are both popular destinations with charming historical areas.

With a famous historical old-town, Arles offers plenty to see. The large old town is filled with Roman ruins and historic sights. There are narrow streets and many interesting places to explore.

The rich history of Girona can be explored in its historical center. It's a beautiful medieval old town with many wandering streets that are lined with storefronts and classic European cafes.

Is the Shopping Better in Arles or Girona?

Girona is well known for its shopping areas. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Girona. In and around the old town you'll find modern shops, local eateries, charming markets, and anything you might need to purchase. There's also no shortage of souvenir and trinket shops, but they have a bit of personality and character to them.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Arles. There are many boutiques that are filled with local art, crafts, and merchandise.

Is Arles or Girona Better for Families?

Most people don't think of either Arles or Girona as a family destination.

Arles doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. Filled with Roman ruins and beautiful art, this is a great town, but can make for a long day for younger kids.

For families, Girona is not always the best place to visit. While the old town is beautiful, with charming colorful buildings, the city itself doesn't have a wide number of activities for kids. There are ice cream shops where they can enjoy a sweet treat. There are also several museums and many restaurants have kid-friendly menus.

Is Arles or Girona Better for Couples?

Both Arles and Girona are high quality destinations to visit as a couple.

Couples visit Arles frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Couples who enjoy history, roman ruins, and beautiful art will appreciate a weekend getaway to this town.

Girona is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. The setting is both beautiful and romantic. Couples can enjoy wandering the streets, popping in the many shops, and soaking up the atmosphere. There are also many great restaurants that make for a wonderful night out. Head up the hills towards the cathedral for the best viewpoints, or wander along the river and enjoy the colorful atmosphere.

Is Arles or Girona Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Girona is very good for backpackers. However, Arles is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Girona is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. Prices aren't too crazy and it's not hard to find a place to stay for an affordable price, but you won't find the lively backpacker scene that is common in many nearby cities.

Arles is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a couple of hostels and apartments in the area.

Is Arles or Girona Better for Students?

Girona is very good for students. However, Arles is not popular with students.

Girona is popular with students. It's a smaller city with affordable accommodation and many great restaurants. It has a quintessential European atmosphere that makes it a fun place to spend some time as a student

Arles is not popular with students.

Is Arles or Girona Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Arles and Girona.

You'll find some public transit in Arles, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are shuttle buses that run between the city center and the train station, which is less than a kilometer out of town.

While Girona offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. The town is small enough that you can likely walk anywhere you want to go, but if you need transit, there are 10 local bus routes.

Is Arles or Girona a more walkable city?

Girona is an unbeatable place for its ease of walking around. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for its walkability.

Getting around Girona on foot is easy. Everything is easily accessible on foot and its best not to bring a car into town.

Arles is very walkable. It's a historic walled city that is very walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Arles Worth Visiting? and Is Girona Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Girona or Arles?

How long in Arles or Girona?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Arles or Girona to fill your time. In our opinion, Girona has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Girona than Arles. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Girona than Arles if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Girona.

One day in Arles or Girona?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Arles. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

In Girona, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this ancient destination offers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

A weekend in Arles or Girona?

Arles is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the museums, as that's what most people do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Girona. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Arles or Girona?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Arles. Don't miss the museums, as that's what most people do. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Girona is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the museums and food when visiting the quaint destination of Girona. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Arles or Girona?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the historic destination of Arles. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

You'll find food and shopping around the ancient destination of Girona. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to France, The Best G Adventures Tours to France, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Barcelona, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid.

When comparing the travel costs between Arles and Girona, we can see that Arles is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Arles Expensive? and Is Girona Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Arles or Girona?

Girona has a larger population, and is about 68% larger than the population of Arles. When comparing the sizes of Arles and Girona, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Arles or Girona?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Arles or Girona in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Arles and Girona. Many visitors come to Arles in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, most visitors come to Girona for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Arles is generally around the same temperature as Girona. Daily temperatures in Arles average around 24°C (75°F), and Girona fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Girona this time of the year. In Arles, it's very sunny this time of the year. Arles usually receives more sunshine than Girona during summer. Arles gets 354 hours of sunny skies, while Girona receives 279 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Arles usually receives less rain than Girona. Arles gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Girona receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Arles or Girona in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Arles as well as Girona. Most visitors come to Arles for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Additionally, the autumn months attract visitors to Girona because of the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

Arles is around the same temperature as Girona in the autumn. The daily temperature in Arles averages around 16°C (61°F) in October, and Girona fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

In the autumn, Arles often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Girona. Arles gets 178 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Girona receives 170 hours of full sun.

Arles receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Arles usually gets more rain in October than Girona. Arles gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Girona receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Arles or Girona in the Winter?

Both Girona and Arles are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Arles because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Girona this time of year.

In the winter, Arles is cooler than Girona. Typically, the winter temperatures in Arles in January average around 7°C (44°F), and Girona averages at about 8°C (46°F).

Arles usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Girona during winter. Arles gets 146 hours of sunny skies, while Girona receives 148 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Arles usually receives more rain than Girona. Arles gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Girona receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Arles or Girona in the Spring?

Both Girona and Arles during the spring are popular places to visit. The natural beauty are the main draw to Arles this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Girona for the small town charm and the natural beauty.

In April, Arles is generally around the same temperature as Girona. Daily temperatures in Arles average around 13°C (56°F), and Girona fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

It's quite sunny in Arles. In the spring, Arles often gets more sunshine than Girona. Arles gets 218 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Girona receives 177 hours of full sun.

Arles usually gets less rain in April than Girona. Arles gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Girona receives 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Girona and Arles